East Bay High School Sports

Vasquez touchdown run caps wild comeback by Los Medanos

By Nick Norvell

Correspondent

Posted:
10/26/2013 09:15:44 PM PDT

Updated:
10/26/2013 09:15:44 PM PDT

PITTSBURG -- With his team trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter, Los Medanos College running back Shawn Vasquez broke six tackles in a 58-yard touchdown run that gave the Mustangs a heart-stopping 40-37 Bay Valley Conference win over Mendocino on Saturday.

Vasquez's thundering run capped a wild ending for Los Medanos, which scored 27 points in the fourth quarter -- including the final 15 points -- as it rallied from a 12-point deficit.

Before his touchdown run and with his team trailing 37-35, Vasquez took a screen pass from Adam Nesheim 56 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 125 yards rushing on 13 carries with and touchdowns, and caught two passes for 61 yards. He was also ejected from the game on a questionable penalty with 3:12 remaining.

"He (Vasquez) got caught up, he might be held out the first half next week. We'll take a look at it," Mustangs coach Chris Shipe said, adding that after the game, "We had emotion in the locker room, I didn't talk about football, I talked about life, and to enjoy it."

The only other time Los Medanos had the lead was early in the first quarter on its first possession, as Nesheim directed a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by receiver Jermaine Sims' 6-yard touchdown catch.

Mendocino responded on its next possession as quarterback Trevor Taylor directed a seven-play, 64-yard drive which ended with receiver Dionte Perry catching a 25-yard touchdown.

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The Eagles took the lead 14-7 on their ensuing possession as Taylor threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dionte Perry. Kris Selita added to the Eagles' lead with a 25-yard field goal before halftime.

The Eagles late took a 31-19 lead early in the fourth quarter as backup quarterback Andrew Paulson found receiver Jacquari Chandler for a 13-yard touchdown pass. On the ensuing kickoff, though, Los Medanos return specialist Jamal Lockett's 89-yard kick return cut the Eagles' lead to 31-25.

"We never gave up," Nesheim said of his team's comeback. "(Shipe) preaches it to us day-in, day-out to basically never give up, we kept fighting."